Perikatan would not have lost MPs if Muhyiddin was Opposition Leader, says Shahrir

PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional (Perikatan) would not have lost the support from its four MPs if its chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin helmed the Opposition in Parliament, says Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad.

In his Facebook on Saturday (Nov 11), the former Johor Baru MP said Muhyiddin needs to fill the Opposition Leader’s position himself and added that the presence of party leaders at the head of the "political war" will stimulate it.

"This is one of the reasons why MPs are not shy about switching their support to the ruling government. I'm sure they are not really close or acquainted with Muhyiddin, who is the top leader of their party," said Shahrir.

"He should have been the Opposition Leader instead of handing it to Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin," he added.

Shahrir then said that a similar mistake occurred when Umno and Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi handed over the Opposition Leader's position to Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said this led to the internal confusion among Umno and Barisan, paving the way for Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri to become the 9th Prime Minister.

Shahrir then added that Muhyiddin now has "fewer buttons to press" as answers lie with "the leadership of the party, leadership in the House".

He said that the four Perikatan MPs switching to support the unity government proves the importance of their role in Parliamentary democracy.

"They have not only expressed support for the government but have switched seats out of the opposition bloc. They are no longer in the opposition bloc and even if they are not in the government bloc, their status now is that they have become independent MPs," he said.

Shahrir added that top leaders from the Opposition parties - especially PAS and Bersatu - do not see Parliament as the most important institution in the country's political system.

He said this is Perikatan's weakness, as it opens up space for their MPs to shift their support.

"Political leadership is not only at the party level. That leadership also needs to be seen and felt in Parliament.

“Our country's Parliamentary system recognises the presence of the Opposition by appointing an Opposition Leader. This position not only comes complete with allowance, office and staff, it even has a higher position in terms of national protocol," he said.